J-951 1870 Half Dollar Pattern - J-951 1870 50C NGC PR64 CAMEO. This eye-appealing, Cameo proof 1870 Half Dollar Pattern shows light silvery-gold toning on its devices with dark blue-green and gray on its fields. These colors attest to the coins originality. The surfaces are clean with no hairlines visible without magnification. As expected for a proof coin, the strike is strong. Full details are present on Libertys hair and tiara, as well as the central devices of the reverse. The elements of the wreath and the bow knot are also strong and full.

The obverse die is the same one that was used in 1869 for the J-748 pattern half dollar. It is one of the designs made by James B. Longacre and engraved by William Barber for the Standard Silver series. Sets of nine coins, each with a common reverse and a different obverse were made for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. Later the trime and half dime denominations were added along with a Standard Silver dollar pattern. The J-951 pattern was also struck in silver with a plain edge and in copper and aluminum with both plain and reeded edges.

The design shows a profile of Liberty facing right wearing a tiara. Its band is inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is tied in the back with a ribbon and also falls down and behind her neck. Above her in an arc is the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; the motto IN GOD WE TRUST is on a ribbon below. The reverse shows a knotted at the bottom open wreath of wheat, corn, maple, and cotton. The word STANDARD is at the top and 50 CENTS with the date are enclosed within.

William Barber was renowned for his pattern work and for the production of over forty medals. The dies and prototypes for these works were repeated many times over with slight modifications. In total, Barbers body of work is considered uninspired and inconsistent. However, he was one of the most prolific and influential pattern designers that had ever been employed by the Mint.

In its population report, NGC shows the 1870 50 cent pattern J-951 in PFCA64 tied with 2 others for second finest known. It is also the finest known at PCGS, which has none in PRCA.